And god created the two precious metals,Gold and Silver,to serve as the Meassure of value of all commodities.They are also generally used by men as a store or treasure.For although other goods are sometimes stored it is only with with the intention of acquiring gold or silver.For other goods are to the flustuations of the market,from which they(gold and silver) are immune.
-ibnu Khaldun,Al Muqaddimmah,circa 1379-Gold still represents the ultimate form of payment in the world.Fiat money in extremis is accepted by nobody.Gold is always accepted.
-Alan Greenspan,may 20,1999-The most important thing about money is to maintain its stability…You have to choose between trusting the natural stability of gold and the honesty and intelligence of members of the government. With due respecr for these gentlemen,I adviseyou,as long as the capitalist system lasts,to vote for gold.
-George Bernard Shaw,1928-No nation in history has ever survived fiat money,money that did not have precious metal backing.
-Ronald Reagan,1980-Gold is unalterable fiduciary value par excellence
-Charles de Gaulle-

Gold is money,That’s it.
-J.P.Morgan

IMF sale may not stop gold from hitting $1,200by April 1A rising demand for gold from financial institutions looking forward to restructure their portfolio before March has offset a possible decline of the yellow metal’s prices on the back of a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) announcement that it plans to sell remaining 191.3 tonnes of gold.Analysts based in Dubai observed that financial institutions, which are looking for safer havens in the countries where the financial year comes to an end in March, are heavily buying into the yellow metal, gold.The bullion may touch a price of $1,200 an ounce by April 1, Sajith Kumar PK, CEO of Dubai- based JRG International Brokerage DMCC, said.Gold stood at $1,118.50 an ounce in the international markets on Friday after having touched $1,125 an ounce earlier in the day.“With almost all major currencies weakening, we are still bullish on gold. There is a feeling that gold remains the best investment option,” said Sajith. The IMF issued a statement on Wednesday that it would sell the remaining 191.3 tonnes (6.15 million ounces) of gold.This is the second tranche of IMF gold up for sale after about 212 tonnes were sold in international markets last year. Late last year, the first tranche of 403.3 tonnes of IMF gold was sold to the central banks of India, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.The sales generated proceeds equivalent to $6.73 billion (Dh2.46 trillion) in case of India and $72m in the case of the Bank of Mauritius. The sale to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka generated $375m. IMF’s sale of gold comes from its commitment to mobilise $17bn for lending to low-income countries, mostly in Africa, that have suffered from the global financial crisis.Dubai analysts are sceptical about the sales designed to control the flight of capital to gold. “If you look deep, there is a possibility of such sales helping a flight of capital to dollar denominated products. Attempts torestrain gold prices automatically benefit dollar denominated products,” an analyst said.In response to the IMF announcement on Wednesday, the price of gold initially fell sharply, as much as $24 in international markets, but later stabilised. “The steep fall came in a market that was watching a rise in gold prices. But the announcement was quickly factored in,” a Dubai-based trader said.Analysts have generally been bullish on gold. Francisco Blanch, Global Head of Commodities Research with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, recently told Emirates Business that the bullion could touch $1,500 an ounce by the end of this year. said Blanch.

Why central banks hold gold

Monetary authorities have long held gold in their reserves. Today their stocks amount to some 30,000 tonnes - similar to their holdings 60 years ago. It is sometimes suggested that maintaining such holdings is inefficient in comparison to foreign exchange. However, there are good reasons for countries continuing to hold gold as part of their reserves. These are recognised by central banks themselves although different central banks would emphasise different factors.DiversificationIn any asset portfolio, it rarely makes sense to have all your eggs in one basket. Obviously the price of gold can fluctuate - but so too do the exchange and interest rates of currencies held in reserves. A strategy of reserve diversification will normally provide a less volatile return than one based on a single asset.Gold has good diversification properties in a currency portfolio. These stem from the fact that its value is determined by supply and demand in the world gold markets, whereas currencies and government securities depend on government promises and the variations in central banks’ monetary policies. The price of gold therefore behaves in a completely different way from the prices of currencies or the exchange rates between currencies.

Economic SecurityGold is a unique asset in that it is no one else's liability. Its status cannot therefore be undermined by inflation in a reserve currency country. Nor is there any risk of the liability being repudiated.Gold has maintained its value in terms of real purchasing power in the long run and is thus particularly suited to form part of central banks' reserves. In contrast, paper currencies always lose value in the long run and often in the short term as well.

Physical SecurityCountries have in the past imposed exchange controls or, at the worst, total asset freezes. Reserves held in the form of foreign securities are vulnerable to such measures. Where appropriately located, gold is much less vulnerable. Reserves are for using when you need to. Total and incontrovertible liquidity is therefore essential. Gold provides this.

Unexpected needsIf there is one thing of which we can be certain, it is that today’s status quo will not last for ever. Economic developments both at home and in the rest of the world can upset countries’ plans, while global shocks can affect the whole international monetary system.Owning gold is thus an option against an unknown future. It provides a form of insurance against some improbable but, if it occurs, highly damaging event. Such events might include war, an unexpected surge in inflation, a generalised crisis leading to repudiation of foreign debts by major sovereign borrowers, a regression to a world of currency or trading blocs or the international isolation of a country. In emergencies countries may need liquid resources. Gold is liquid and is universally acceptable as a means of payment. It can also serve as collateral for borrowing.

Confidence The public takes confidence from knowing that its Government holds gold - an indestructible asset and one not prone to the inflationary worries overhanging paper money. Some countries give explicit recognition to its support for the domestic currency. And rating agencies will take comfort from the presence of gold in a country's reserves. The IMF's Executive Board, representing the world's governments, has recognised that the Fund's own holdings of gold give a "fundamental strength" to its balance sheet. The same applies to gold held on the balance sheet of a central bank.

IncomeGold is sometimes described as a non income-earning asset. This is untrue. There is a gold lending market and gold can also be traded to generate profits. There may be an "opportunity cost" of holding gold but, in a world of low interest rates, this is less than is often thought. The other advantages of gold may well offset any such costs.

InsuranceThe opportunity cost of holding gold may be viewed as comparable to an insurance premium. It is the price deliberately paid to provide protection against a highly improbable but highly damaging event. Such an event might be war, an unexpected surge of inflation, a generalised debt crisis involving the repudiation of foreign debts by major sovereign borrowers, a regression to a world of currency and trading blocs, or the international isolation of a country.

How much gold?This is a matter for countries and central banks to decide in the light of their particular circumstances. The international average is about 10.2% at current market prices but, in the EU it is over 50% and the USA holds around 75% of its reserves in gold. Countries facing particular volatility in their economic and/or political circumstances will want to consider the level of gold in their reserves.